Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma softball ends Big 12 title chase with one-hit shutout win

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 10: Members of the Oklahoma Sooners spirit squad perform during the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 48-47. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 10: Members of the Oklahoma Sooners spirit squad perform during the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 48-47. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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There was a chance, albeit a slim one, that someone other than Oklahoma softball might win the Big 12 championship this season. Now, make that no chance.

Oklahoma State came into its this weekend’s Bedlam series against the Sooners with a chance to steal the conference title from OU if the Cowgirls could pull off an improbable, but still possible, sweep of No. 1-ranked Oklahoma.

Sooner ace Giselle Juarez, a newcomer this season to the OU pitching staff and the Big 12’s best pitcher this season,, took all the drama out of a championship showdown with another brilliant performance: a one-hit, complete-game, 3-0 shutout of Oklahoma’s in-state rivals.

Juarez, who transferred to Oklahoma from Arizona State, aided her cause by striking out 13 of the 25 batters she faced, the highest strikeout count in the Big 12 this season. It also was the Sooner starter’s 21st win of the season without a loss.

The win gave Oklahoma its eighth consecutive Big 12 crown. And because Friday night’s series-opening game in Stillwater was postponed because of stormy weather, the Sooner faithful got to witness the conference-clinching victory at home in Norman. A fitting setting for what has become a record-setting season

The game was scoreless until the home half of the fourth inning, when OU’s Caleigh Clifton and Jocelyn Alo launched back-to-back home runs to give Juarez all the run support she would need. It was the 14th home run of the season for both Sooners.

Oklahoma added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back doubles by Also and Grace Green.

The title-clinching victory overshadowed the fact that with the win Oklahoma extended its nation-best consecutive win streak to 36 games. The Sooners have also won 41 consecutive games against Big 12 opponents and 21 straight in the Bedlam series with OSU.

The schedule originally called for Friday and Sunday games to be played in Stillwater, with the middle game in the series played in Norman on Saturday. Because of Friday’s postponement, the two teams will play a doubleheader in Stillwater on Sunday to finish out the series and the regular season for both teams.

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